DIRECTORS (TWO TO BE ELECTED)
Isabel Bacarella, MPH, CIH, CSP
Manager, Safety Operations Gas Transmission and Midstream
Enbridge
While I see great value in all the AIHA domains, member and volunteer engagement with the goal to expand and attract membership resonates with me the most. We don’t have a profession without our members. People are our greatest asset and the core of our profession. I began volunteering with AIHA as a student and have been active in various volunteer groups ever since. Those experiences connected me with OEHS deeply and had profound impacts on my career and knowledge development. To sustain and evolve in our ever-changing area of expertise, a focus on recruitment and retention of members is essential. In alignment with AIHA’s mission statement to empower professionals to protect all workers and communities from hazards through scientific knowledge, OEHS professionals must take a lead in the solutions. AIHA’s Board of Directors can ensure success by advancing diversity and inclusion within our field. By embracing diverse perspectives, we can drive innovation and ensure that our initiatives are comprehensive and effective for all workers. If elected as director at-large, I will advocate for initiatives that support all members, including underrepresented groups, and foster an inclusive environment within AIHA, ensuring members have the support structure to stay engaged. Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within AIHA on the Board.
DIRECTORS (TWO TO BE ELECTED)
Chris Robertson, MSPH, CIH, CSP
President and CEO
Technical Environmental Services Inc.
As a candidate for the AIHA Board, I am driven by a calling to help people retire healthy and happy—a mission that aligns deeply with AIHA’s purpose of empowering professionals to protect workers and communities from occupational hazards. The domains of impact and awareness, advancing the profession, and pursuit of knowledge resonate most with me.
My commitment to occupational health is personal and extends to my family. My middle son is studying for his MPH in industrial hygiene, and I serve on the board of Tulane’s MSPH program, my alma mater. I am passionate about sharing how this field combines purpose with stability, offering meaningful careers that make a difference—values central to AIHA’s goals.
My wife and I now travel often, and I’m eager to join AIHA delegations to share EHS expertise with developing communities. Through social media, my son and I also work to highlight the impact of this profession.
Additionally, I’ve co-developed myIH, a field note solution to enhance industrial hygiene data collection. This tool is one way I aim to strengthen our field, and I look forward to serving further on the AIHA Board. I am an industrial hygienist at heart—“I am IH.”
My commitment to occupational health is personal and extends to my family. My middle son is studying for his MPH in industrial hygiene, and I serve on the board of Tulane’s MSPH program, my alma mater. I am passionate about sharing how this field combines purpose with stability, offering meaningful careers that make a difference—values central to AIHA’s goals.
My wife and I now travel often, and I’m eager to join AIHA delegations to share EHS expertise with developing communities. Through social media, my son and I also work to highlight the impact of this profession.
Additionally, I’ve co-developed myIH, a field note solution to enhance industrial hygiene data collection. This tool is one way I aim to strengthen our field, and I look forward to serving further on the AIHA Board. I am an industrial hygienist at heart—“I am IH.”
DIRECTORS (TWO TO BE ELECTED)
Melissa Rupert, MS, CIH
Principal
SevenGen
I see the most critical domain as impact and awareness, specifically the goal to promote the practice of OEHS. This domain is at the heart of everything we do. If people don’t understand the value of our work, how can we expect to build a strong pipeline of future professionals, grow the profession, or even keep our members engaged?
The actions outlined under this domain focus on building meaningful connections. Building relationships with policymakers helps us protect workers and communities. Collaborating with allied organizations amplifies our voice, extending our reach to broader audiences. Crafting compelling messages shows those outside our community why our work matters. These efforts are essential to building awareness and trust to ensure the survival of our profession. When our impact is understood, people will see OEHS/IH as a field that not only improves lives and businesses, but as a profession they want to be part of.
Balancing member needs with staff resources is no small task, but we can succeed by prioritizing initiatives that deliver the greatest impact while collaborating with allied organizations to share resources effectively. Furthermore, communicating with our membership in a transparent manner will keep them engaged and ready to raise their hand for meaningful volunteer opportunities that will lighten the load on staff.
The actions outlined under this domain focus on building meaningful connections. Building relationships with policymakers helps us protect workers and communities. Collaborating with allied organizations amplifies our voice, extending our reach to broader audiences. Crafting compelling messages shows those outside our community why our work matters. These efforts are essential to building awareness and trust to ensure the survival of our profession. When our impact is understood, people will see OEHS/IH as a field that not only improves lives and businesses, but as a profession they want to be part of.
Balancing member needs with staff resources is no small task, but we can succeed by prioritizing initiatives that deliver the greatest impact while collaborating with allied organizations to share resources effectively. Furthermore, communicating with our membership in a transparent manner will keep them engaged and ready to raise their hand for meaningful volunteer opportunities that will lighten the load on staff.
DIRECTORS (TWO TO BE ELECTED)
Amy H. Snow, MHS, CIH, CSP
Managing Industrial Hygienist
SafeBridge - Trinity Consultants
I believe the domain of impact and awareness is the most critical domain for AIHA. Our science-based messages and research efforts are intended to “serve” a wider audience and protect all workers and communities. We as OEHS professionals need to build relationships with partners outside of AIHA to raise awareness, reinforce messages, and expand and amplify our influence through these partners to protect workers and communities. This is articulated in goal 2, “Work with policymakers and allied organizations to advance public policies that protect workers and their communities.”
A collaborative team approach, with cross-discipline professionals, has proven successful in my career and volunteer leadership roles. Our collaborative, team-based approach for writing the Hazardous Drug Surface Contamination guidance document with a wide variety of professionals—hygienists, toxicologists, analytical chemists, and pharmacists—has allowed for health-based hygiene messages to be “heard,” “understood,” and “embedded” into proactive solutions across disciplines. Expanding our AIHA influence to external cross-discipline partners will build awareness, strengthen messages with diverse partners, influence policy, and ultimately provide enhanced protections for all workers and communities.
The Board of Directors can ensure success with a keen focus on prioritized objectives in the strategic plan. The voice of the membership could be “heard” through periodic surveys or membership engagement meetings with the Board and staff to assess progress and re-align objectives.
A collaborative team approach, with cross-discipline professionals, has proven successful in my career and volunteer leadership roles. Our collaborative, team-based approach for writing the Hazardous Drug Surface Contamination guidance document with a wide variety of professionals—hygienists, toxicologists, analytical chemists, and pharmacists—has allowed for health-based hygiene messages to be “heard,” “understood,” and “embedded” into proactive solutions across disciplines. Expanding our AIHA influence to external cross-discipline partners will build awareness, strengthen messages with diverse partners, influence policy, and ultimately provide enhanced protections for all workers and communities.
The Board of Directors can ensure success with a keen focus on prioritized objectives in the strategic plan. The voice of the membership could be “heard” through periodic surveys or membership engagement meetings with the Board and staff to assess progress and re-align objectives.
